Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS2) Human Active Protein

This gene encodes a protein that belongs to the serine protease family. The encoded protein contains a type II transmembrane domain, a receptor class A domain, a scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain and a protease domain. Serine proteases are known to be involved in many physiological and pathological processes. This gene was demonstrated to be up-regulated by androgenic hormones in prostate cancer cells and down-regulated in androgen-independent prostate cancer tissue. The protease domain of this protein is thought to be cleaved and secreted into cell media after autocleavage. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2008]

Serine protease that proteolytically cleaves and activates the viral spike glycoproteins which facilitate virus-cell membrane fusions; spike proteins are synthesized and maintained in precursor intermediate folding states and proteolysis permits the refolding and energy release required to create stable virus-cell linkages and membrane coalescence. Facilitates human SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection via two independent mechanisms, proteolytic cleavage of ACE2, which might promote viral uptake, and cleavage of coronavirus spike glycoprotein which activates the glycoprotein for cathepsin L-independent host cell entry. Proteolytically cleaves and activates the spike glycoproteins of human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) and human coronavirus EMC (HCoV-EMC) and the fusion glycoproteins F0 of Sendai virus (SeV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4a and 4b viruses (HPIV). Essential for spread and pathogenesis of influenza A virus (strains H1N1, H3N2 and H7N9); involved in proteolytic cleavage and activation of hemagglutinin (HA) protein which is essential for viral infectivity.